Alberta Holiday Park Extension, Kent: Ornithological Surveys & Habitat Regulations Assessment

Overview

Park Holidays brought forward an application in 2019 for an extension to the existing Alberta Holiday Park in Seasalter, Kent to support 91 static caravans. The potential impacts of this to the adjacent European Sites and SSSI needed to be carefully assessed and avoided through design solutions. BSG Ecology carried out comprehensive surveys and assessment resulting in permission for the extension being granted in 2023.

Challenge

Ecology was a key issue in planning terms for the project. The Site covers two small grassland fields located adjacent to the Swale Special Protection Area (SPA), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Ramsar site. Wintering bird surveys carried out by BSG Ecology between 2018 – 2021 showed that the site infrequently supported a small number of curlew, which were listed in the qualifying interest of the European Sites.

The Proposed Development would have resulted in the loss of both fields as a foraging resource for curlew. There was also the risk of impacts to birds wintering or breeding in off-site areas within the adjacent European Sites and SSSI through disturbance by visitors to the holiday park, though no direct access was proposed.

Solution

BSG carried out a full suite of ecological surveys to inform an Ecological Impact Assessment. Additionally, due to the proximity of the Site to the European Sites there was a need to prepare a report to inform the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) for this application.

Overall it was BSG Ecology’s assessment that though the site may constitute Functionally Linked Land for the SPA, the numbers recorded and the frequency of occurrence, likely indicated that the site is not fundamental to the curlew population using the European Sites. Based on the size of the proposed Site and the habitat present, it was also deemed unlikely that the site offered supporting habitat for significant numbers of wintering birds using the SPA, SSSI and Ramsar.

Mitigation and enhancements proposed for the site included:

• Reducing the developed area by retaining and enhancing much of the eastern field. This will be achieved by creating scrapes to support foraging and roosting curlews.
• The enhanced area will be screened from the development with new planting where the existing vegetation does not provide sufficient visual barriers.
• The southern boundary of the western field will also support a buffer of new reedbed and scrub planting to reduce impacts associated with disturbance to birds using these areas.

Additionally the Developer executed a Unilateral Undertaking which included a financial contribution to North Kent Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS), which will fund measures to mitigate disturbance to birds caused by recreational pressure.

Outcome

As a result of the careful design of the Site in conjunction with BSG Ecology and payments into the North Kent SAMMS, Kent County Council’s Ecology team and Natural England supported the final conclusion of the HRA that the proposals would not result in a detrimental effect on the integrity of the European Sites.

However, the RSPB continued to object to the scheme on a number of grounds, including the effect of the loss of foraging habitat and the impact on the value of the off-site habitats through disturbance. This objection resulted in the Planning Committee refusing to grant planning permission.

BSG Ecology were commissioned to support the Appeal to this planning decision and produced supporting documentation including a statement on case on ecology matters. Ultimately the Local Planning Authority withdrew ecology as a reason for refusal, deeming that this was not a valid reason for refusing planning as issues pertaining to impacts on the European Sites had already been resolved to their satisfaction as set out in the Report to the Planning Committee.

The Planning Inspector granted planning permission in February 2023 supporting in full the conclusions presented in the original HRA..

Testimonial

“BSG Ecology have been providing high quality support with the Alberta Holiday Park extension project since the start of the baseline surveys. This has included regular technical input to the design and liaison with consultees to bring about a positive outcome for the application and biodiversity. The team at BSG included a range of people with experience at Planning Appeals and with the required ornithological knowledge to provide the support we needed to secure this outcome.”

Matt Purdom, Park Holidays